Paul Williams: Ageless and Evergreen

The songwriter is 'Still Alive'

He wrote "Evergreen" with Barbra Streisand, "We’ve Only Just Begun" for The Carpenters, and "The Rainbow Connection" for Kermit the Frog — but despite his enormous success in the 1970s and ‘80s, Oscar winner Paul Williams faded from the spotlight in a haze of drugs and alcohol.

Now, 22 years sober, Williams is not only a hot concert ticket again, but also president of ASCAP, the songwriters guild — and the subject of an inspiring new documentary, Paul Williams Still Alive. He tells Bill Newcott why he at first objected to that title, but then came to realize it was really just perfect.